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1960s

What was Washington, D.C. like in the 1960s? Take a look at our great posts with stories, people, photos, and history about the District from the sixties.

1963 Map of D.C. Public Housing

Here is an interesting map we found on the D.C. public library’s website. It’s a map of the National Capital Housing Authority’s public housing in the District back in 1963. Source: Dig DC If you haven’t yet donated to the...

1967 Map of Unbuilt D.C. Highways

Why doesn't 395 cut through Washington, DC? This is the history of highways in DC.
31 March 1963 President John F. Kennedy and family watch Caroline Kennedy riding a horse named "Tex" at Camp David. "Tex" is wearing a blue and gold Moroccan saddle, a gift to President Kennedy from King Hassan II. Photograph includes: (L-R) Caroline Kennedy, John F. Kennedy, Jr., First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy, and President Kennedy. Camp David, Maryland. Please credit "Robert Knudsen, White House/John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston"

The Kennedys at Camp David

This photo was taken on March 31st, 1963. It shows the whole Kennedy clan happily spending some time together at Camp David. Caroline is on top of the horse, while little John holds his mother’s hand. Source: National Archives
Looking eastward along the I-495 Capital Beltway in Virginia, east of Springfield, toward the Beltway bridge over the Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac (RF&P) Railroad (today's CSX Railroad) in the distance. The highway was nearing completion but not yet open to traffic at this time. Notice that the roadway has three lanes, and that the roadway is paved with reinforced Portland cement concrete. When originally built, the Beltway in Virginia had six lanes (three each way) between I-95 at Springfield and across the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and all the way through Maryland. This photo was taken in 1963 by the Virginia Department of Highways.

Origin of the Term “Beltway Bandit”

Before the days of Booz Allen, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing, the term ‘Beltway Bandit’ was applied to the nefarious behavior of a common area criminal — a true bandit if you will. Application of the term to today’s military industrial...
Proposed highway in Arlington

Proposed Southside Freeway in Arlington

Here’s an interesting proposal for the Southside Freeway in Arlington, which never came to be. This graphic is from The Washington Post printed on October 7th, 1960. That date, by the way, is when the famous Kennedy/Nixon presidential debate happened, being...
A menu for bottle liquors room service at the Willard Hotel. (back)

Old Time Willard Hotel Room Service Menu

How cool is this find? We dug up this great old menu for the Willard Hotel’s room service at Discover DC History. Click on them for more details. This appears to be from the 1960s? Maybe the 1950s? Source: Discover...
View of Rosslyn over the Key Bridge in 1964

1964 View of Rosslyn Skyline

This old photo is over 50 years old, showing what Rosslyn looked like from Georgetown in 1964. Source: Library of Congress
Capitol Building and a lot of cars parked in front of it in the 1960s

You Won’t See the Capitol Like This Ever Again

This photo of the Capitol Building from the 1960s is something you’ll never see again. The Capitol Dome under construction and a lot of cars parked out in front of it. Source: snipview.com
Aerial view of the Washington Navy Yard, looking east (top). This shot shows the Navy Yard’s borders: M Street on the north (left); the waterfront on the south; 11th street on the east, and 2nd street on the west (foreground). On the right bank of the river is Anacostia, September 1963. NHHC Photograph Collection, Navy Subject Files, Washington Navy Yard. (214).

Aerial Views of the Navy Yard in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s

This photo is an aerial view of the Navy Yard just a couple of months before President Kennedy was assassinated. Source: National Museum of the U.S. Navy Here’s another one from the 1970s. Source: National Museum of the U.S. Navy...

Vietnam-Era Soldier’s Remains Found 30 years Later at 10th and E St. NW

Thanks to a tip from GoDCer John, we did some digging into the story of a soldier who disappeared from Ft. Myer in 1967. A few Google searches later and we came across the story of Allen L. Adams of...
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